This proposal for a Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) has been prepared by the ad hoc Scientific and Technical Planning Group appointed in late 1993 by five co-sponsors - FAO, ICSU, UNESCO, UNEP and WMO (Annex 1). Its work has been helped by numerous international colleagues, notably those who attended workshops or provided individual inputs (Annex 2), and/or took part in the external review of the penultimate draft (Annex 3). It has been prepared in accordance with the terms of reference given by the co-sponsors (Annex 4). It draws primarily on the findings of three GTOS Working Groups (on the observing system, data management and support to developing countries), on the joint GCOS/GTOS Terrestrial Observation Panel, and on the report of the Fontainebleau workshop (Heal et al 1993) which was the first major step in the GTOS preparatory process.
The Planning Group has made five main assumptions in preparing this proposal:
That the objective is to provide a strategic plan. Thus it is framed around examples, without attempting to provide the detail which will have to be introduced in operational plans to be developed later.
That balanced consideration must be given to national and regional development needs and to the needs of the international scientific community.
That GTOS would be implemented progressively over a number of years, with relatively low expenditure in the early stages and the use of pilot activities.
That GTOS would be built largely from existing research and observational activities.
That it should be designed to complement the other global observing systems, GCOS and GOOS, with the maximum use of common procedures. Examples are for data management and space observations, and in joint modules for the land-climate and land-coastal zone interfaces.
The proposal is in two parts. Part I presents the background and justification, the scope and conceptual framework for GTOS, the benefits and costs, and finally suggestions on the implementation. Part II sets out the proposal in more detail through six sections covering user needs, GTOS products and services, the observation system including site and variable selection and networking, data management and harmonization, support to national partners, and the coordination framework. The two parts are preceded by an executive summary.
David Norse
Chairman, ad hoc Scientific and Technical Planning Group
for a Global Terrestrial Observing System
December 1995
